Roundup: Chinese art troupe lights up New Year celebrations in Benin

An art troupe from China's northwestern Gansu province elevated celebratory activities for the Rooster New Year in Benin's economic capital Cotonou.

Chinese artists highlighted their performance with Chinese music, choreography and acrobatics as the west African country is organizing celebrations for the eighth time for the Chinese New Year.

Hundreds of spectators, including the Chinese community, Beninese citizens and foreign diplomats, watched the show in the Palais des Congres of Cotonou.

Wei Jun, cultural counselor to the China Embassy, said the performance of the Chinese art troupe is part of efforts to revitalize the cultural cooperation between China and Benin.

He said it is an excellent example of cultural values being shared for mutual understanding and traditional friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

According to Ange N'koue, Benin's Minister of Culture and Tourism, the friendship and cooperation between the two countries has reinforced a win-win partnership.

"In that momentum, Benin always learns from the very important artistic and cultural heritage of the great China that has a quite impressive experience in cultural heritage management," he said.

Paul Dossa, Beninese cultural operator, said he appreciated the whole cultural evening with the Chinese art troupe.

"We greatly appreciated this cultural show that enabled, during at least two hours, the immersion of Cotonou people in the Chinese culture," Dossa told Xinhua.

"This cultural evening gave us an opportunity to discover part of the Chinese culture and to get closer to Chinese people," he added. Endit